India’s ONGC reveals five new oil and gas discoveries in “play-opening” exploration push

(WO) – In a financial update, India’s ONGC revealed that it has made five new discoveries in FY’ 25 so far. Since May 2024, ONGC has made three more discoveries (one onshore and two offshore) in its operated acreages. Out of these, 2 are prospective (one onshore and one offshore), and one is a new pool (onshore) discovery:

PURN-1. The PURN-1 exploration well (CB-ONO-PU-A) was drilled in OALP block CB-ONHP-2019/1 to explore HC potential of Olpad & Kadi. During testing, the well flowed viscous oil after heat treatment through hot water.

PURN-1’s success in the Olpad Formation has established the presence of oil and gas in the prospect and opened up a new area for exploration in and around OALP block CB-ONHP-2019/1.

West Matar-2. The West Matar-2 exploration well (MRAX) was drilled in Matar Addl. (7 year PML) area to explore HC potential of Middle Eocene Play (Hazad Member). Two objects were tested in sand-6 and sand-8 of Gandhar. 

While Gandhar Sand 6 flowed oil at 83 cmd and gas at 10,500 cmd, Gandhar-8 flowed oil  at 87.89 cmd and gas at 10,644 cmd. This success has established commercial oil and gas for the first time in GS-6 and GS-8 sands in the West Matar field and is declared new pool discovery. This discovery has opened areas for further exploration.

Chandramani (B-56-B). The B-56-2 well (B-56-B) was drilled in C-Series PML in Tapti-Daman area offshore Mumbai to explore the hydrocarbon potential of the Panna and Bassein formations.

One object, tested in Diu Formation, flowed gas at over 2 MMcmd. The encouraging testing results has established the presence of commercial oil and gas in the Diu formation for the first time offshore Mumbai, opening a new play for further exploration.